Agenda and minutes

To issue a welcome to those present, and to confirm if there are any apologies for absence.

The Chair welcomed those present to the meeting.

Apologies were received form Cllr Osman, Cllr Cassidy, Cllr O’Neill and Cllr Porter.

Cllr Byrne substituted for Cllr O’Neill

Cllr Surti substituted for Cllr Cassidy

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed on the agenda.

Members were asked to declare any interests they may have had in the business to be discussed.

Cllr Kitterick, attending for the verbal addendum on NCP Car Parks, declared that some of these car parks were in his ward.

Cllr Clarke declared during the item on Car Parking that he was a board member at The Phoenix.

The minutes of the meeting of the Economic Development, Transport and Climate Emergency Scrutiny Commission held on Wednesday 11^th March have been circulated, and Members will be asked to confirm them as a correct record.

AGREED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Economic Development, Transport and Climate Emergency Scrutiny Commission held on 11^th March 2026 be confirmed as a correct record subject to the agreed corrections.

The Chair is invited to make any announcements as they see fit. 

The Chair thanked officers for their work throughout the municipal year.

The Chair welcomed members of the Young People’s Council to the meeting.

Huzaifa Lorgat asks:

1.    Coleman Road hosts our General Hospital and has an Emergency

Ambulance station. Yet it is absolutely littered with potholes. Can the road be resurfaced as a matter of urgency?

2.    Residents including myself have made many reports via the love clean street app for this issue amongst many potholes across Leicester, but they get closed as 'resolved', but issue remains. How does your department quality check to ensure reports that are 'closed' are actually resolved?

Huzaifa Lorgat asked:

1. Coleman Road hosts our General Hospital and has an Emergency Ambulance station. Yet it is absolutely littered with potholes. Can the road be resurfaced as a matter of urgency?

2. Residents including myself have made many reports via the love clean street app for this issue amongst many potholes across Leicester, but they get closed as 'resolved', but issue remains. How does your department quality check to ensure reports that are 'closed' are actually resolved?

The City Highways Director responded:

1.    Our highways team regularly monitor the condition of this section of Coleman Road and have recently carried out resurfacing works to the section from Broad Avenue up to Devon Way, as well as some joint sealing further towards the hospital. The remainder of the carriageway does have areas of surface course that are stripping away, but due to the concrete slab immediately below, this is only resulting in shallow defects, which in themselves are not a safety concern. Where deeper defects become evident through monitoring these will be repaired accordingly.

We do recognise that this is a ward priority and have a resurfacing scheme for Coleman Road included on our reserve list.  However, it will be a significant scheme and currently we anticipate this work will be undertaken in 2027/28 but this may be sooner if resources allow.

2.    Love Clean Streets is a great way for our residents to tell us about issues on the highway, as well as reporting many other issues in the city. Our highways team do respond to all reports, informing the resident that we have received and will investigate and confirming whether repair works will or won't be required.

Any repair works required are raised and managed through our highways asset management system. This system monitors all works deadlines and reports are regularly interrogated to ensure that works do not over run their target time. This is all part of an externally accredited ISO 9001 quality management system.

Any petitions received in accordance with Council procedures will be reported.

The Monitoring Officer reported that none had been received.

The Director of Planning, Development and Transportation submits a report to feedback to the EDTCE Scrutiny Committee on the impact of increase to on-street and off-street parking charges implemented on 2^nd June 2025. This was an action arising from the Committee meeting held on 23^rd April 2025 which requested “for a report to be brought to Commission, to include car park usage since the increased charges”.

The Director of Planning, Development and Transportation submitted a report to feedback to the EDTCE Scrutiny Committee on the impact of increase to on street and off-street parking charges implemented on 2nd June 2025.

The City Mayor introduced the item noting that the news of the NCP car park closures had been unexpected. Leicester City Centre had a surplus of parking provision and usage of NCP car parks fluctuated over time but tended to be low. The situation was further complicated by the separation of ownership and operational responsibilities. Discussions were taking place with the relevant parties.

A verbal addendum was given on issues surrounding the NCP car parks.

Non-EDTCE members attended the meeting for the discussion of the verbal addendum.

Key points included:

• Administrators had informed the Council of the closures at short notice. Discussions took place, stakeholders were consulted and there was an effort to raise public awareness through the media.
• Additional availability for disabled parking was identified.
• Promotional activity was aimed at increasing awareness of public transport, alternative car parking sites, and the extended park and ride opening hours. 
• Work was ongoing with owners, agents and the police to negate criminal activity at the closed NCP sites.
• Updates would continue to come as the matter progressed.

It was noted that questions had been submitted prior to the meeting, and it was agreed that some data could be given after the meeting. Questions and answers were as follows:

A progress breakdown for each of the car parks was requested.

It was explained that there were ongoing discussions with owners and operators. It was a commercially sensitive environment.

Possible timescales were requested.

It was suggested that for some of the carparks, outcomes could come within the following weeks.

An enquiry was made about the likelihood of contractual delays.

The Director of Planning, Development and Transportation replied that he was not party to the contractual discussions between the operators, agents and owners.

It was asked whether there were there any patterns and were officers monitoring updates?

It was explained that this was a national closure programme, and the Council was following the evolving situation.

It was enquired as to whether there was there was awareness surrounding potential closures of further NCP sites.

It was noted that The Council was not aware of other likely closures at this stage.

In response to further member discussion and questions, the following was noted:

• The closures of NCP car parks were part of a wider national issue.
• The Rutland Street closure was likely to have the most significant impact on the cultural quarter. There was a good standard of parking available at Dover Street and the Haymarket carpark. Communications were ongoing to highlight the benefits of parking at the two. So far, impact on business had not been seen.
• Plans were being developed on a new traffic regulation within the Cultural Quarter, near the Curve Theatre and there was also work to create more disabled parking.
• An independent operator managed the Park and Ride.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 220.

The City Transport Director submits a report providing members of the commission with information on the affordability of transport options in the city, with particular reference to passenger transport.

The City Transport Director submitted a report, with a slide show presentation as attached, providing members of the commission with information on the affordability of transport options in the city, with particular reference to passenger transport.

The Chair then welcomed discussion with the attending Young People’s Council Representatives. The following was noted:

• The free Hop bus service did not operate early enough to for some young people to travel to school or college. The routes did not meet some after school requirements. Delays were impacting pupil punctuality at school. The City Transport Director agreed to take this point for further consideration.
• For commercially operated bus companies, fares could be expensive for young people. The transition from child to adult fares at age 16 presented financial challenges for some young people. The City Transport Director confirmed that this could be considered and noted that young people’s fares varied across the UK.
• There was a suggestion for reducing fares during the summer holidays.
• Safety was a concern and it was confirmed that all buses were fitted with CCTV.
• Double Decker buses seemed to be used during less busy times.

In response to member questions and discussion, the following was noted:

• Relevant results of the Young People’s Survey were requested to come to scrutiny, including the aspects on safety.
• Following prior feedback from the Young People's Representatives, The City Transport Director had tasked officers to look into a number of matters, including, how issues on buses could be reported swiftly and the operation of double-decker buses.
• Costings on expanding the Hop Service could be brought back to the commission.
• The Hop was a specialised city centre bus service, wider factors would need to be addressed to extend operational hours. Demand could not be displaced from commercial bus operators. The age profile of users was not recorded.
• The flexi ticket was available for use across all providers, excepting the park and ride service.

AGREED:

1)    That the report be noted.

2)    That comments made by members of this commission to be taken into account.

3)    Bus fares for 16-18 year olds would be considered.

4)    For a review of how the Hop service could best meet the needs of young people.

5)    For Hop running costs to be shared with the commission.

6)    Bus operators to be engaged with on the impact of delays on users of school services.

7)    Relevant sections of the Young People’s Survey would come to scrutiny.

Following the conclusion of this item, the consideration of the Parking Fees and Usage Update resumed.

The Director of Tourism Culture and Economy submits a report to update the Commission on The Leicester Adult Education service being invited to participate in a DfE programme called the Pathways to Devolution Pilot.

The paper sets out the proposed approach to utilise additional funding and highlights the opportunities and key risks it presents.

The Director of Tourism Culture and Economy submitted a report to update the Commission on the Leicester Adult Education service being invited to participate in a DfE programme called the Pathways to Devolution Pilot. 

The Head of Adult Education attended the meeting to present the report.

Key points to note were as follows:

·       The Department for Education (DfE) had allocated some money previously used to commission skills nationally to be devolved to Leicester from September.  Options were being considered with a combination of delivery approaches.  The models for the options were set out in the report: In House Delivery, Partnership Provision and Sub-Contracted Provision.

·       It was aimed to expand provision in areas where the Council as a provider had seen unmet demand, for example in English as a Second Language (ESOL).

·       Views were welcomed on how to use the funding, particularly on things that supported progression routes such as expanding the Skills Bootcamp offer and supporting creative industries.

In response to member questions and discussion, the following was noted:

·       With regard to points made about avoiding potentially fraudulent sub-contractors, it was explained that due diligence was done prior to awarding contracts.  The track record of the potential sub-contractor (including Ofsted records) were looked at.  Additionally, the DfE had a list of organisations that the Council were not allowed to work with as they had a record of bad practice in the past.  The training locations of potential sub-contractors were also visited and their staff met with.

·       With regard to in-house provision, it was necessary to think about capacity.  It was known where the Council were strong and where demand was high, so these areas were focussed on.  It was also necessary to think about facilities and resources as there was no funding within this for capital expenditure.  It was hoped to work with the Construction Hub.  There was a preference for in-house provision where this was possible as sub-contracting had layers of management which made it less efficient. External providers could also sometimes access different communities which is an alternative benefit.

·       In terms of targeting vulnerable groups, it was suggested that this work could enhance or align with the Connect to Work programme.  Additionally, groups such as those over 19 and Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) would be worked with, and it was aimed to expand ESOL. 

·       In terms of support for women, it was noted that 70% of learners were women, so they were a core demographic.  Courses could be offered part-time, and be flexible around school hours so that delivery models could be used to deliver courses and so courses could be accessed without being full-time.  It was also aimed to be supportive and have a good environment, and to have appropriate venues.

·       In response to points made about sewing classes and textiles, it was noted that skills in the textiles sector had been supported for many years.  The organisation Fashion Enter had been supported and had set up the Fashion Technology Academy.  They had received  ...  view the full minutes text for item 222.

Members of the Commission will be asked to consider the work programme and make suggestions for additional items as it considers necessary.

It was noted that the work programme would be revisited in the new municipal year.

The work programme was noted. 

There being no further items of urgent business, the meeting finished at 19:49.